<p>I apologize for offending some of you with my comments.
I teach in a small state college and I do get lots of students that were unable to "do better". Majority of them are not prepared to study college level math. We give remedial classes, hs algebra and it sometimes borders on insanity. And they had good grades coming out of hs. Why such a push for college education on the part of those who just don't have it in them?
I wonder how many kids would be able to attend college if we were to give them a broad spectrum exam with essay type questions, they way it is still done in some western european countries.
But again, my sincere apology for offending some of you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
and why exactly did you have your 6th grader taking the SATs
[/quote]
In order to be given advanced level work most institutions require out of level testing. My son's school had him tested when he was 11</p>
<p>Back to the OP's main question - just how significantly considered is the Writing portion? I see a lot of schools who require either the SAT or the ACT + ACT writing test, so there's clearly no intent on their part to completely ignore the Writing. But on the other hand, I see on Tufts' admissions website that they require the writing test if an applicant takes the ACT, and on the same page they celebrate that their entering class's average CR + Math surpassed 1400 for the first time. Does anyone have an informed take on whether the Writing score pulls much weight?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
So if the OP's daughter did well in high school, an 1870 SAT score does not indicate an inability to have a successful college career at a very good University.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Just to keep the facts clear, the OP's child has an SAT score of 1750 -- it was Kelowna who mentioned her son's score (of 1870) when he was in 6th grade. On the original topic, so far, few schools give much weight to the Writing section. I found a listing here on CC of the schools that either count heavily, count somewhat, and don't count the Writing section, and by far the larger group was the "don't count" group. In the OP's daughter's case, then, she should find the "count heavily" schools. Sorry I don't remember where the thread was.</p>
<p>There's a new question on the Common Data Set form for 2006-07 (now starting to become available from colleges) that asks how the institution will use the SAT-Writing Scores. It's a good way to find out if they're using the writing score for admissions.</p>
<p>Kelowna, I'm going to quote four sentences from your posts. I copied and pasted these sentences exactly as they appeared in your posts.</p>
<p>Maybe not everyone is a college material?</p>
<p>My six grader got 1770 without studying.</p>
<p>I teach in a small state college and I do get lots of students that were unable to "do better". </p>
<p>Majority of them are not prepared to study college level math. </p>
<p>Each of these four sentences contains an error that would count against you on a writing exam. There shouldn't be an "a" before "college material" in the first sentence, you should have said "sixth" instead of "six" in the second sentence, the period should have been to the left of the quotation mark in the third sentence, and the fourth sentence should have had the word "the" before "majority."</p>
<p>Heaven help you if you had to take the SAT Writing test. </p>
<p>But that doesn't mean that you're not smart. You obviously are. You just haven't learned certain skills completely. The same is true of a lot of kids, for many different reasons. There's more to life -- and to being ready for college -- than test scores.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There's a new question on the Common Data Set form for 2006-07 (now starting to become available from colleges) that asks how the institution will use the SAT-Writing Scores. It's a good way to find out if they're using the writing score for admissions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>footnote: the same information is also available on the college board site for schools that don't make their CDS public</p>
<p>My understanding, which may be a little impressionistic, is that the same UC study that showed a higher correlation between high school GPA and college success than for SATs also showed the highest correlation among tests for the then-SAT II Writing test. And also that CB revised the SAT I to include Writing more or less specifically to induce the UC system to continue to use the SAT I as an admissions criterion.</p>
<p>I assume that the UC schools pay attention to the Writing component.</p>
<p>My d's writing scores were her highest as well - she took the SAT twice and aced the essay part both times with a 12 and 11. So we were very interested in the Kaplan list posted above and made sure to ask at all the colleges we visited. She was accepted at 6 schools - 2 equal weight, 1 lesser weight, 2 no weight and 1 undecided (I think they opted to give it no weight). She was waitlisted at 1 no weight and 1 equal weight.
The one that surprised us was the equal weight where she was waitlisted - it wasn't a top choice for her but I expected her to get in.<br>
The biggest advantage in being a good writer is that it will transfer to the essays she writes for her applications!</p>
<p>Marathonman-
can you post the link to collegeboard's table of schools providing data on the Writing test?
My s also did best on this section (a total surprise to all of us!). He is applying to schools that use SAT II subject tests, so I would assume they look at the writing section (as they required it when the previous SAT was around). I would find it hard to believe that schools just "ignore" a score (especially a good one) when it is sitting on the page in front of them and starign them inthe face. And, many schools really want kids, especially boys, with good writing skills. So, as for us, I will keep myu fingers crossed that the strong writing score was not for naught.</p>
<p>Here's a link that will take you to a typical page. To see the SAT policy for a school, click the "SAT, AP, CLEP" icon near the center of the page. The data seems to have been updated based on 2006-07 CDS for many schools, and more schools than before are using the writing for admissions. </p>
<p>I think people are saying that a weaker writing score may be taken with a grain of salt at this point, not that a stronger score will be ignored.</p>
<p>marathonman,
Thanks for clarifying. I thought there was some master list and I couldn't find it.</p>
<p>bethievt-
The OPs question asked whether schools would look at or ignore the writing section, as it was her d's highest score. As you point out, it is tough to parse out whether schools will consider it, if it is strong, vs. not holding it against a student if it is not. I would have to assume that schools that required the old SAT II writing test will consider it, whereas schools that did not require subject tests will , as we say in the south "not pay it no nevermind". :)</p>
<p>Before the "New SAT" era, most schools that require SAT II tests used to require one of them to be SAT II Writing, so I don't see why they would disregard the writing section now...</p>
<p>"No offence but ask her to re-test. My six grader got 1770 without studying. I am not trying to put you down or anything, but it does seem to be low."</p>
<p>Not all of us are geniuses or amazing test takers. God knows i'm not. Regardless, with a score 'lower than your 6th grader's', I got into a top 50 school so who am I to care?</p>
The UC schools use a formula where they add all the scores together, using their own system of conversion & weighting, and add that to a score derived from the GPA. So yes, the writing score is considered, but I don't think it is looked at as a separate number -- I think they only see the numerical total. So if a kid's combined scores on SAT IIs & SAT is 3000, it probably doesn't make much difference which are the higher and which are the lower scores -- the total academic index is probably all that matters in most cases.</p>
<p>calmom, if what you are saying is right, the UCs treat the Writing score on a par with Critical Reasoning and Math. If that's the case, it's probably the most favorable weighting anyone gives it.</p>
<p>Yes, but at the same time a kid could have a weak writing score counterbalanced by strong math & SAT II's... and the weak score would kind of disappear. Keep in mind that the UC's don't require the kind of scores that are commonly talked about on CC ... plus the numbers are combined with the GPA so a strong GPA acts as another counterweight against a weaker writing score.</p>
<p>Kelowna, I'm sorry. I'm afraid you pushed every button and trigger on CC. I am also guessing that you might be a fine math teacher, frustrated a bit by some of your students. Since I taught ESL, I also am taking a wild guess that English is your second language. Your syntax isn't perfect, but I wouldn't even try to compete with you in Mathematics! People have many different strengths to offer in a community of parents and students, trying to guide young people towards manageable schools where they can develop and learn well. My parents were both professors at New England College, where the average incoming SAT's were 500 for each test. A few miles away was Dartmouth College, which must be up there in the stratosphere for SAT scores, by comparison. Both places confer college degrees. </p>
<p>Your pride in your own child's early accomplishment can be put into perspective. What we do here is try to help others' kids. </p>
<p>edit addition: We also share the joys and trials of being the parents of teens and college students. Plus shopping tips.</p>
<p>As much as possible, we stretch to imagine the variety of strengths each child brings. There are many kinds of colleges, with a wide range of expectations for students. There will be a "right-fit" or suitable school for the OP's child, as well as yours someday, although I'll guess they're not going to attend the same school!
It's fine. I think you should read a bit more in the College Admissions section to get a feel for the "Chances" threads where people try to size up each others' statistics and then recommend a dozen or so colleges that will match (and also be safeties or reaches) for each candidate.
It's okay to walk into a room and make mistakes. You could also re-enrol on CC under a new screen name, if that's less embarassing. Welcome. Once you figure it out here, you'll have much to offer, especially since you teach college.</p>